Clashes over Internet rules to mark Dubai meeting

The U.N.'s International Telecommunications Union hopes to reach a broad consensus to revise codes not updated since 1988 - before the Internet became a key part of global communications.

Each of the 193 nations at the 11-day meeting can propose regulatory changes. Organizers say the gathering will focus on issues such as Web security and expanding Internet services in developing countries.

But Internet companies, rights groups and some governments fear that the conference, which opens Monday, could bring rules that countries such as China and Russia would use to justify tighter Web restrictions and monitoring. The 123-member U.S. delegation includes envoys from tech giants such as Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp.